Indoor and Outdoor Cats - How to Teach Your Cat to Use a Cat Door to Expand His Environment
A cat door offers your outdoor cat the opportunity to spend time indoors, either for the benefits of feeding inside, and/or allowing him to come inside to escape the danger of another cat or dog.
It also offers your cat the chance to interact more with his human family.
If you have a screened-in patio or room, a cat door leading out to that area will allow an indoor cat to get a taste of the outdoors without putting him in harm's way.
You will be surprised how much time your indoor cat will spend out there.
Some cats will figure out the cat door right away, coming in and out like it was nothing.
Others are a little timid when it actually comes to using the cat door for the very first time.
Fortunately, there are some things you, the cat owner, can do to get him over those fears, and using his new entryway regularly and without hesitation.
If you already have a cat or dog that uses a door to go outside, then your new cat will learn from the other pet very quickly, and you will have to do nothing.
After you install a cat door, leave it be for a few days so your cat gets used to seeing it.
Cats do not like change, so he needs to see this contraption and wonder about it for a little while.
If within a few days your cat has not started to use the door, then tape the flap up so he can look directly out and see what awaits him.
Make sure you tape the flap securely, because if it ever falls down and slaps him on the face, it will take a much longer time before he uses the cat door.
Once he begins to associate the fact that he can conveniently go outside on his own time through this magical opening, put the flap down.
Then put some butter or margarine on the bottom of the flap, and entice him with some treats, praising him on the other side.
You can also drag toys through the opening by tying them to some string and encouraging him to chase them.
Keep repeating these lessons in short intervals for several days, until your cat gets the hang of it.
Just be patient, as he will eventually get to the point of using the door.
It also offers your cat the chance to interact more with his human family.
If you have a screened-in patio or room, a cat door leading out to that area will allow an indoor cat to get a taste of the outdoors without putting him in harm's way.
You will be surprised how much time your indoor cat will spend out there.
Some cats will figure out the cat door right away, coming in and out like it was nothing.
Others are a little timid when it actually comes to using the cat door for the very first time.
Fortunately, there are some things you, the cat owner, can do to get him over those fears, and using his new entryway regularly and without hesitation.
If you already have a cat or dog that uses a door to go outside, then your new cat will learn from the other pet very quickly, and you will have to do nothing.
After you install a cat door, leave it be for a few days so your cat gets used to seeing it.
Cats do not like change, so he needs to see this contraption and wonder about it for a little while.
If within a few days your cat has not started to use the door, then tape the flap up so he can look directly out and see what awaits him.
Make sure you tape the flap securely, because if it ever falls down and slaps him on the face, it will take a much longer time before he uses the cat door.
Once he begins to associate the fact that he can conveniently go outside on his own time through this magical opening, put the flap down.
Then put some butter or margarine on the bottom of the flap, and entice him with some treats, praising him on the other side.
You can also drag toys through the opening by tying them to some string and encouraging him to chase them.
Keep repeating these lessons in short intervals for several days, until your cat gets the hang of it.
Just be patient, as he will eventually get to the point of using the door.
